HOLTEN HOLDS EARLY NZ PGA LEAD AT CLEARWATER

Thursday, Jan 21, 2010

Canterbury professional Mathew Holten holed a birdie `bomb’ at his final hole, the par-3 ninth water hole at Clearwater, to card a five-under 67 for a one-shot lead with the morning field having completed their first round in the New Zealand PGA Championship.
 
Holten, starting off the 10th tee, turned one-under after birdies at 12 and 14 and a bogey at the par-3 180m 16th hole – his only dropped shot – but he was in grand touch on the homeward half with birdies at the third, fourth, seventh and ninth.

``I didn’t hit the ball too well to be honest, but I hit it in good spots that gave me good lies and I was able to actually hit a few greens and two-putt them. I had a couple of tap-in putts then holed a 40-foot bomb on the last. It’s always nice to make a par there so to get a two was pretty special,’’ Holten said.
 
Holten, a former Waikato amateur now living in Christchurch, was a shot ahead of the Victorian pair, Craig Hasthorpe and Peter Wilson, and South Australian, Jason Norris, winner of the recent Victorian Open.

Two shots behind Holten were New Zealanders, Dale Clarke, Troy Ropiha, and Grant Waite, along with Australians Ed Stedman and Tom Prowse, who were tied for fifth.
 
Holten, the leading Kiwi when still an amateur at the 2003 Clearwater Classic won by American Ryan Palmer, said that his aim for tomorrow’s second round was ``to get the ball in the fairway’’.

``From the Australian Masters last year I’ve struggled off the tee – I don’t know whether it’s the driver or just me. I was pretty relaxed today. I came in with no expectations and hadn’t played a tournament since November. I’m trying to keep the mind fresh.’’
 
Holten said he had a solid build-up to the tournament, playing Clearwater on Sunday and Tuesday and Russley on Wednesday. On the Monday he was earning his keep working at Tui fertilizers and also at the Russley Golf Club.